Marinella Caruso

I am a sociolinguist and applied linguist. I obtained my undergraduate degree from the Università di Bergamo in Italy. My honours dissertation was published as a book, which marked the beginning of my research journey and academic career. During my PhD studies at UWA I was appointed to my first full-time position as an Italian lecturer at Flinders University. I subsequently returned to UWA, where I now coordinate the Italian Studies program as Cassamarca senior lecturer.

My research interests are in Italian linguistics, sociolinguistics and applied linguistics. I have conducted extensive research on language contact in the migration context. My second monograph explores the phenomena of attrition and maintenance in the transition from the first to subsequent generations of Italians. I have also published extensively on second language education and policy, and some of my recent projects (with Nicola Fraschini) have pioneered the application of Q methodology to the study of language learner motivation. I supervise Honours and postgraduate students on various topics of Italian linguistics and culture.

I am passionate about the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and have published on online feedback, adaptive learning and flipped learning. I am part of the university-wide Communities of Practice that foster active learning, inclusive and accessible teaching, and academic integrity. I am an active member of the Italo-Australian community, through collaboration with organisations and Italian diplomatic bodies to support Italian language maintenance programs and policies.

Language contact

Italian language attrition

Language and identity

Language policies

Language learners' motivation

Application of Q methodology to language learners' motivation

Flipped learning in higher education

The acquisition of relative clauses in Italian L2

Italian heritage language acquisition

Histories of Italian language programs at universities

2023. ACIS (Australasian Centre for Italian Studies) Publication Grant. $2,000.00

2016. Education Futures Grant. Personalised and flexible language learning: optimising adaptive and mobile learning in Italian language beginner classes. $9,940.00.

2015. Education Futures Grant. Facing the revolution in the language class. Interactive on screen feedback for French, Italian and Korean learners. $10,000.00.

2014. Improving Student Learning Grant. Integrating blended learning for the development and assessment of listening skills in Italian. $2,300.00.

2006. UWA Research Grants Scheme. $11,500.00.

2006. Publication grant from the Arts Faculty (Humanities and Social Sciences Publication Grant). $2,000.00.

1997. Vice-Chancellor's Discretionary Fund. The development of multimedia material for Italian. $11,500.00.

1992. Scholarship awarded under the Australian-European Awards Program (AVCC) to fund research in Italian Linguistics at the University of Western Australia. $20,000.00